Business Observer 01.20.11

+ Neal Communities signs 17 contracts in December
Neal Communities reported last week it signed 17 contracts in December 2010. The Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder finished the year with 275 signed contracts and 295 secured building permits, setting a 10-year record of activity for the company and making Neal the top single-family home builder in Southwest Florida.

The last time Neal experienced so much activity was during the housing boom in 2004 when it signed 264 contracts.

“Buyers are seeing that the bottom is behind us, and with two back-to-back severe winters up north, the demand for Florida homes will rise dramatically,” said Neal Communities Director of Sales David Hunihan. “We have high expectations for 2011.”

For more information, visit nealcommunities.com.

+ Sanborn adds two to staff
Ken Sanborn, founder and CEO of Sanborn Studios, and Studios President Karinne Behr announced last week the additions of Alan J. Bailey as CFO and Dan Forman as senior vice president of programming and development.

Bailey spent 35 years with Paramount Studios and most recently served as senior vice president and treasurer. His accomplishments include recruiting $300 million in asset-backed financing and bringing in $150 million to help launch Paramount’s specialty-film division Paramount Vantage. That led to award-winning movies such as “No Country For Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood,” and “Babel.” Bailey also saved Paramount more than $75 million through state production incentives for movies such as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Up In The Air,” and “Shutter Island.”

Under his production label “Moving Star Media,” Bailey has produced a variety of motion pictures and TV shows. He is co-founder and Executive Producer of the Pasadena “Action on Film” International Film Festival and the American International Film festival.

“The addition of Alan Bailey to our management team is another giant leap forward for Sanborn Studios,” Sanborn said. “Alan is an experienced and dynamic veteran of the entertainment industry.”

Dan Forman comes to Sanborn Studios after serving as senior vice president and station manager of WNBC. A two-time Emmy Award winner, Forman produced nationally recognized coverage of the events surrounding the tragedy of 9/11 attacks.

Forman will oversee production of Sanborn’s first TV series, “Miami 24/7,” which has been picked up in overseas markets. The show is already in pre-production.

“Dan’s experience in developing successful TV content gives us yet another dimension,” Sanborn said. “We’re excited to have him on board.”

+ Latin chamber announces board
The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of officers to the board for 2011.

The new officers include:
Chairman: David Cumberland
Vice-chairman: Joe Mercado
Secretary: Jason Fromi
Treasurer: Rosalia Holmlund
Past-chairman: Fermin Miranda
Director: Patricia Castro
Director: Jorge Chacón
Director: William English
Director: Ervin Helmuth
Legal counsel: Jim Delgado

The mission of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce is the promotion, development and dissemination of information, trends and opportunities available in the Hispanic business community of the Florida Gulf Coast region.

For more information about The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce and its foundation, visit www.LatinChamber.org or call 358-7065.